I have obsessed over the time thing ever since mom was diagnosed 2 years ago. The thing is...the deterioration is usually so gradual that its hard to know where they are in the progression until something major occurs. Mom started out with the repeating things and over the last 2 years, she pretty much has no short term memory, as well as lost ability to balance her checkbook, follow a recipe, follow lengthy conversations, and other cognitive functions. I take her to all appointments and do her shopping. She has someone come clean her house twice a month, and still takes care of her own hygiene. She eats the same thing every day, which doesnt involve cooking, and ive read that others also do this. Even if other types of food are bought, she doesnt eat it. I know shes getting worse, but how long we have before something major happens, i dont know. Have noticed that she seems to get irritated much quicker these days. I have found an assisted living with a memory care unit a few miles from me, but so far she refuses to consider it...she doesnt remember/believe that she has ALZ either. Wish there was a way to predict what will happen next, but as everyone has said to me...it does vary by individual.
It really just depends on the person. It depends on how well they function and how the disease progresses with them. Some people are able to manage in the home for years if they have someone there to make sure they don't leave on the stove, that they get their bath, eat their meals, make their doctor appointments, take their medication, etc. If there is not anyone in the home to help with these things, then may have to go to assisted living or Memory Care immediately, after diagnosis, to have their needs met. Please note that some patients develop difficult behavior that makes it hard to handle them in the home, such as staying up all night, repeating, agitation, hiding items, lying, delusions, hallucinations, etc.
My cousin was hit fast. She was running her household and paying bills one month, but a couple of months later and she was not able to function on her own. She lived alone, so had to enter assisted living immediately.
I have a family friend who has had dementia for over 10 years and she stays in her home with her adult daughter as her caregiver. She is mobile and cooperative and with the exception of a few bladder infections, stays healthy. She has done quite well at home even though she has had advanced dementia for many years.
It's when things get unmanageable in the home when people need to consider a facility of some sort. For example some patients fall a lot, get fractures and end up in rehab. Others get resistant or hostile and cannot be managed in the home. Still, others begin to wander and they need a secure memory unit. Eventually, there are other matters like incontinence, inability to chew, swallow or walk. It's difficult to handle those patients in a house with limited manpower from a spouse or one child caretaker.
You can go to the Alzheimers website to look at the stages. It gives the progression by stage. Keep in mind that the patient may have symptoms from one or two stages at once. And there is no time frame for how long each stage may last. It's such a cruel disease, as it is very random in how it strikes and how it affects each person.
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My cousin was hit fast. She was running her household and paying bills one month, but a couple of months later and she was not able to function on her own. She lived alone, so had to enter assisted living immediately.
I have a family friend who has had dementia for over 10 years and she stays in her home with her adult daughter as her caregiver. She is mobile and cooperative and with the exception of a few bladder infections, stays healthy. She has done quite well at home even though she has had advanced dementia for many years.
It's when things get unmanageable in the home when people need to consider a facility of some sort. For example some patients fall a lot, get fractures and end up in rehab. Others get resistant or hostile and cannot be managed in the home. Still, others begin to wander and they need a secure memory unit. Eventually, there are other matters like incontinence, inability to chew, swallow or walk. It's difficult to handle those patients in a house with limited manpower from a spouse or one child caretaker.
You can go to the Alzheimers website to look at the stages. It gives the progression by stage. Keep in mind that the patient may have symptoms from one or two stages at once. And there is no time frame for how long each stage may last. It's such a cruel disease, as it is very random in how it strikes and how it affects each person.